Kardashian-West Family Zoo Trip Included Rare Sighting of the Elusive Smiling Kanye

A little-seen rare species was recently spotted at the San Diego Zoo: the elusive cap-crested northern smiling Kanye. Yep, the usually dour-faced Kanye West was visiting the zoo with his wife Kim Kardashian West and their two elder children, North, 4, and Saint, 2.

Don't get us wrong. The hippos and the elephants were super-cute and all, but we're still marveling at the pic Kardashian West posted of her beaming baby daddy. Is West turning into a cuddly softie in his old-ish age? Whatever the case, we were pretty excited to see the sweet papa-son moment.

Kardashian West posted pics of the family's VIP zoo trip on her Instagram and Snapchat, writing, "Thank you @sandiegozoo." The zoo has long been a family favorite of the Kardashian-Jenners, who used to visit when they were kids themselves. Even matriarch Kris Jenner revealed on Keeping Up with the Kardashians that she had her own first birthday party there!

Baby girl Chi — Chicago, born on Jan. 15 — wasn't on hand, but big sister North hammed it up in pics, flashing the peace sign in super-casual-cool fashion. She was also allowed to feed a zoo elephant and get photos posing with a hippo and some penguins — an occasion the children of mere mortals can only dream of. *Sigh* Our kids are so deprived.

West has been in full-on happy-dad mode of late. Kardashian West posted a pic to her Instagram of papa West carrying North on his shoulders at the March For Our Lives on March 24 in Washington, D.C. She captioned the photo, "What an amazing day yesterday to take my daughter to Washington DC to see our future leaders speak. Having my daughter march along-side her grandfather and parents was a day I hope she remembers forever. I know that the younger generation will vote to change these gun laws that so desperately need to be changed. Hearing these stories yesterday and meeting so many families affected by gun violence was heart breaking and I hope when it comes time to vote we all step up and vote to protect our children."

We love seeing Kardashian West and West outside their glam zone fully embracing #ParentLife. Keep smiling, Kanye — it looks good on you.